Green River Shield-Billy Pearson-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
The Green River flows south into the Upper Sepik River way out in the West Sepik Province. The shields are produced by the Abau people in this remote region. This is a fine older example with definitive signs of age and traditional use. It comes from the dealer/jockey/film actor Billy Pearson—who if you are not aware of this colorful character it is worth the effort to Google him. Pearson’s inventory number 1729 is listed on the shield’s reverse. The piece dates to the 1920s, stands 58 ¼” (148 cm) in height.